What Is a Plate Washer?

Plate washer is a medical device specially used to clean the microplate reader. It is usually used together with the microplate reader. It is mainly used to clean some residual substances after the detection of the microplate, thereby reducing the errors caused by the residues in the subsequent detection process. It has been widely used in the cleaning of microplates in hospitals, blood stations, health and epidemic prevention stations, reagent factories and research laboratories.

Chinese name: Washing machine
Foreign name: Washing Machine

Management category: Class II medical devices
Category Name: Clinical medical laboratory aids

Features of washing machine equipment

1. The new washing machine developed by using the most advanced technology in the world without positive and negative pressure avoids the trouble brought by positive and negative pressure, and makes it easy for you to use, saving time and effort
2. Multiple cleaning methods can be applied to different experimental requirements;
3. Automatically flush the pipeline to prevent blockage due to crystallization of the washing liquid in use;
4. Full Chinese operating system, simple and clear operation, 10 minutes of training can be learned;
5. It has been widely used in the cleaning of microplates in hospitals, blood stations, health and epidemic prevention stations, reagent factories, and research laboratories ^[1] .

Development of plate washer

The development of the plate washer is roughly divided into three stages, simple, automatic, integrated environment type plate washer.

Simple plate washer

It can also be called a manual plate washer: Generally, a negative pressure pump and a cleaning head can complete the most basic liquid suction, and there are also devices that can complete the liquid adding action. This type of device can be used when the workload is small due to the extremely low cost and convenient use.

2. Automatic plate washer

It can complete the plate washing for a specified number of times and according to the user's settings, and some have simple storage functions. The main purpose is to use manual technology instead of manual labor. There are strip and plate.

3. Integrated environmental plate washer

It is characterized by providing a good environment for washing plates, emphasizing washing effects rather than automation, and has certain intelligent characteristics.

Application range of plate washer

1. Washing of enzyme-labeled plates and culture plates in enzyme-free detection of hospitals and related departments.

2. Corresponding cleaning work for chemical, biochemical and other micro-analysis.

Shopping for washing machine

1. Key indicators: residual amount 2L / well

This is a key indicator of a plate washer. A plate washer with a large amount of residue has a relatively poor washing effect. Most plate washer residues are 5L, well-designed plate washer can reach 2L.

2. Can you provide alternative washing environment

It is recommended to choose an instrument with functions such as bottom washing and two-point aspiration. Because bottom washing is beneficial to reduce the interference adsorption at the bottom of the microwell plate, two-point aspiration can greatly reduce the residual amount of microwell liquid. This is effective for improving the washing effect. The number of washing plates, the number of plates, and the soaking time are the basic parameters of the washing machine, which can generally be satisfied.

3. Investigate the reliability of the instrument and the reliability of the washing effect

The first is the reliability of the instrument itself, that is, the instrument design can withstand long-term use and ensure that the instrument can work during its service life, including display and precise movement. It is recommended that users check the technology and production strength of the instrument manufacturer. The first is the reliability of the washing effect, that is, the washing is clean and truly achieves the purpose of replacing, or even better than, manual washing. user.

4. Whether the after-sales service is timely and the price is reasonable

The plate washer is a relatively high-used instrument. From the perspective of motion alone, the frequency is dozens of times that of the microplate reader. Some hospitals discard it after two years of use. The main reason is that there is no after-sales service or the after-sales service price is too high, and some are scrapped because of the lack of an accessory, which is a pity. Timely after-sales service and relatively reasonable service prices are factors that should be considered when purchasing a washing machine.

5. Whether the accessories are sufficient.

6. Whether the man-machine interface is friendly, it is better to have Chinese display ^[2] .

Routine maintenance of plate washer

The position of the wash head should be adjusted repeatedly before washing, and the suction needle should be adjusted to the bottom of the microwell as far as possible (no contact can occur) to reduce the residual amount. In some experiments, it is not possible to pinch the plate to avoid cross-contamination, so the requirements for the amount of residual liquid are more stringent. Multiple washings will achieve better results, but generally not more than 6 times. It is advisable to add the amount of liquid per well, but it is not allowed to overflow. Generally it is controlled at 350 400L.

It is recommended to use two-point aspiration and bottom rinsing to get better results. To make good use of the plate washer, it is recommended that the clinical engineer cooperate with the inspection technician to strictly implement the maintenance procedures, as follows.

Avoid prolonged exposure of the wash head to the air. The following immersion modes can be used according to the actual situation:

1. If the washing machine is not used for a short time, such as within half an hour, you can set the soaking mode, so that the washing head is immersed in the washing liquid in the washing tank, to prevent the washing liquid remaining in the inside of the washing head from drying and crystal blocking the washing plate. head.

2. If you do not use it within 12 hours, you can execute the day program and soak the head with the cleaning solution; if it exceeds 12 hours, you can soak it with distilled water.

3. At the end of each day's work, you must perform night cleaning, thoroughly rinse the pipeline with distilled water and soak the wash head ^[3] .

Common faults and maintenance of plate washer

1. Symptom: After cleaning the microplate, the residual amount in the well exceeds the standard.

Analysis and maintenance:

1) The caps of the waste liquid bottle and the buffer bottle are not tightened, and the silicone tube connected to the bottle cap has cracks, dead folds, or loose connections. Tighten the waste liquid bottle cap again, straighten the dead folds, and reconnect the pipeline. If there is a crack in the silicone tube, cut off the cracked portion or replace the silicone tube.

2) The suction nozzle of the cleaning head is blocked, and the long needle is blocked. Use a special needle to clear the long needle of the cleaning head, place the cleaning head in the washing liquid tank, and then press the flushing line key, rinse for a few seconds, and suck the impurities into the waste liquid bottle.

3) The pipeline of the pumping system is blocked and the pipeline is not smooth. Take off this section of silicone tube, clean the inner wall of the tube with a precision slender brush, and clean the inside of the silicone tube to make the pipeline open.

4) The long needle of the cleaning head does not reach the bottom of the microwell of the microplate. Check whether the distance between the long needle of the cleaning head and the bottom of the microwell plate is too large. If the position of the long needle does not touch the bottom of the microwell, press the position adjustment key so that the menu item is in the "bottomed" state, and then press "+" Observe the cleaning head while pressing the key until the long needle touches the bottom of the microplate ^[4] .

2. Symptom: The amount of washing liquid injected into the microwells of the microplate by the short needle of the cleaning head exceeds the standard, and the washing liquid overflows.

Analysis and maintenance:

1) The pressure of the safety valve is too large. Keep the machine in working condition, adjust the safety valve located on the left rear of the instrument, and observe the liquid output of the short needle of the cleaning head while adjusting until the liquid output is normal.

2) The distance between the long needle of the cleaning head and the microwell port of the microplate is too large. Press the position adjustment key to adjust the menu item to the "horizontal" state, and then observe the long needle of the cleaning head while pressing the "+" key until the long needle is 1 ~ 2 mm above the port of the plate hole.